It’s emotional to see Pete, as a second fiddle, and being praised by the sitting President.

 
 

If you have followed Pete’s career with interest, and all the dips and valleys that come with it, you cannot help but feel the lump in your throat, when the current legend, sincerely and graciously commends the former king.

If you are Sampras, that’s like being in heaven. He has earned it, and fully deserves it.

What a great portrait!!!!!!

Interest in the second Federer-Sampras match, waning?

 

If this really is a set up, they should have planned it with more care than is apparent, to peak the interest, somewhere when the fourth one rolls around next year.

Sampras winning a set in the first one, would have accomplished that. That was Sampras’s best shot at Federer, physically and every other ‘cally’. While other ‘callys’ may still be there for Sampras, for the remaining two matches, the one with the phyic, will only taper off.

Unless, Federer steps in to release more rope for Sampras, Sampras is at his mercy now. Wearing a freaking watch is not helping matters. What’s next? A tuxedo? Give me freaking break.

If you are going to manufacture and unmanufacture play for exhibition, do not freaking announce it from the top of your roof, by wearing a freaking watch, which you normally wear only at trophy ceremonies, AFTER the freaking match.

Or do you need a Lazyboy with a remote and wheels to play the next freaking match?

There’s no way, Sampras has not taken that as an insult, even though he has not expressed it. It’s a subtle way of rubbing salt in the wound, don’t you think? How about playing with your left hand for the next one? Will that make you look cooler?

Have some freaking respect for the former great, by giving at least a semblance of a ‘real’ match.

Actually, Federer has decided to let Mirka play the third match, ATP just reported, while Federer spends some quality time, with Wawrinka at the locker room showers.

Are you freaking kidding me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Federer, remember, what goes around, comes…. crap. You may be in this exact scenario, not in too distant a future. Do your part to make it look realistic and graceful, for crying out loud.

Or else, my oven is ready to cook up more interesting stuff about you and your ‘friends’. That scared you. Yeah. Better shape up, before I, either demand more money to keep my mouth shut, or…….

Tennis rivalries from Gracie. Thanks.

 

Gracie | 

With all the end of season talk about rivalries and match ups, and Fed vs Sampras, it occurred to me how much the Federer-Nadal thing is like the Sampras-Agassi rivalry. Opposites in looks, demeanor, playing style, lifestyles, everything… And it made me remember this little Nike commerical that ran back in 2000, during the USO, I think.

Nike should forget about all the meaningless the Federer-Tiger Woods comparisons, and start an ad campaign around Rafa and Rogi… THAT would make it all so much more interesting, not to mention a bit less insulting to the number two guy in tennis.

It’s all about the percentages. From aeropuzz. Good work. Thanks.

 

aeropuzz | 

Dear TP,

Roger Federer hit the ball “poorly” in a couple of matches, even if he went on to win them, we all know that. What we do NOT know is the reason for this. For me, it’s nothin else than the immense pressure resulting from huge expectations. And I honestly think that Roger has in the meantime – meaning from Wimbledon up until the end of the season – learnt do deal with that kind of pressure and is starting to really enjoy playing tennis again. His win/loss percentage in this year, with 25/26 years (88 freakin percent), still peaks Sampras best quote: he had 87% at the age of 22, and 86 at the age of 24, being his highest rates.
In my opinion, Rogers figures will go on to like, 80-85, still freakin high. Yep, it’s a decline, but on an immense high level. He’s still able to pull off 2 or even more slams next season, depends on nothin but his mind and freshness.

Roger Federer

20(age turned into) 25

70%-73%-82%-93%-95%-95%-88%……………….?

(GS age 25+: at least 6, 50% of all GS so far).
————————————————————
Pete Sampras
20 25 30

73%-79%-84%-87%-82%-86%-82%-78%-83%-76%-69%-61%

(GS age 25+: 7, 50% of all GS).
————————————————————
Yvan Lendl

20 25 30

80%-87%-92%-82%-79%-92%-93%-91%-84%-92%-82%-75%-68%
(GS age 25+ : 7, 87% of all GS).

Is there anything more majestic? Meet my pet. Maybe, maybe not!!!

Has Federer been hit by the ‘I know I am going down’ syndrome?

 

Remember, when Mike Tyson would try to beat down his opponents, with a scowl, in the ring, at the tail end of his career? He also would use ‘extreme’ words to intimidate. He once said, that he would eat Lennox Lewis’s kids alive, before the fight. He also bit Hollyfield’s ear off. All this and more happened, only and only, when he was on his way down.

Reminds you of a man clutching to a straw to prevent drowning?

He never did anything of this sort at his peak. Why? Because he had the confidence to reduce the competition to pulp, with his hands and technique. So there was no need to berate an opponent, or try that psychological crap. The margin was so huge, between him and the rest of the field, to even think about messing up with that BS.

This is standard MO of any human being, who is staring at the writing on the wall, irrespective of which endeavor he is involved in. Just look around your own miserable lives, and you will be able to come up with many examples. How about within your own dysfuntional family?

You have, of course, heard of stories of children acting out, after the newly-born starts to take away the attention of his parents. Same idea.

Do you see a pattern in the following?

Roger Federer was asked what advice he would offer a player getting ready to face him.

“Don’t even try, pal,” the top-ranked Swiss star said. “You’re probably not going to win.”

“Once I get on a roll it’s hard to stop me. It’s always been like this.”

That black outfit at the US Open, begging for attention?

$800 hair cut.

I am speaking from personal experience. The older goats here, need extra ‘attention’ and action, to psychologically feel at par, with the hotter and younger ones.

Human nature will never change. I have seen this act, played out so many times, by athletes, actors, politicians, singers, you name it, that it is almost predictable, long before it manifests itself, if you are paying attention.

It’s an irrefutable fact, that Federer has slipped this year, at many levels. The numbers may not tell the whole story, but at least they do point to a certain direction. And it’s not north.

Federer may have passed his best years, as a tennis player. It’s not a shame. After all, he is 26 plus, and has had the best four and half years, in the history of the sport.

It’s best to acknowledge it with grace, instead of fighting it, and cheapen the process, by making out of character statements, both on and off the court. In fact, you can make the whole situation work for you, instead of against you.

By admitting the inevitable, you are able to puncture the balloon of high expectations, both from the fans, as well as yourself. That takes off a lot of pressure.

Any super performance, after that, is received with high enthusiasm, whereas any dip is more acceptable. 

Conversely, super performance is considered routine, and any dip receives worldwide ridicule and ‘decline’ theories, further damaging, the already downward bound confidence.

What’s currently happening is, that Federer still has the old magic and shot making ability, but gradually that skill will start to lose the consistency, over 11 months. So he will continue to stun his opponents and fans, with incredible play, but will have more off days, than he has had in the last four years.

Losses to Volandri and Gonzalez are glaring examples of that. Others, to Canas, Nadal, Djokovic and Nalbandian are just of a lesser degree. But they belong to the same species. This animal is only going to multiply now. The seed has already been planted this year.

What does it mean, to us you mortals? Cherish each dazzling display from him. It also is a good time to sell that cardboard box, you call home, and that crappy car, and go stand in line to buy a ticket, to see a freaking match in person. You will be glad you did.

Federer-Sampras exo highlights/interview. From Arbit. Thanks.

Arbit | 

match highlights (not very good though) and interview after the match can been seen at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb0zinOISLc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFbWCt0AK5I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkumYyf3WWo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF4A38kSQRg (interview)

Federer’s ‘first time’ in four and a half years.

-Back to back losses. Nalbandian at Paris and Gonzalez at TMC.

-Nine losses in a season.

-Lost to six players (Canas(2), Volandri, Nadal(2), Djokovic, Nalbandian(2) and Gonzalez)

-Eight titles for the season.

-Extended to a five-setter at Wimbledon.

-Frittered away 17 break points at FO final.

-Positive H2H against Nadal: 3-2.

-$10 million earning for the year.

-Clinched year-end No. 1 in the last month of season.

-Beat Nadal on clay with a bagel.

-Won more free points on his first serves, including aces.

-Rumblings of a slow down, begin.

-Lost in the finals to three players (Nadal, Djokovic and Nalbandian).